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K-State freshmen shine in debut

Wildcats post 75-54 exhibition win over Pitt State

MANHATTAN — If first impressions are any indication, Kansas State has a talented freshman class that will provide immediate dividends.

Getting their first taste of action in an exhibition against Division II Pittsburg State, Marcus Foster, Nigel Johnson and Wesley Iwundu all displayed promising potential to help the Wildcats to a 75-54 victory Friday at Bramlage Coliseum.

“I thought the freshmen did a good job,” Wildcats coach Bruce Weber said. “Marcus had some jitters early but got going and Nigel made some plays. They all got double-figures, and even Jack (Karapetyan) has practiced maybe a week and he did a couple of good things for us.

“I said all along our older guys have to be our consistent people. They have to be the ones to drive the wagon and the freshmen have to jump in for the ride.”

Foster, who drew a starting assignment in his debut, showed some shooting range and explosiveness to the basket to register 13 points with 5 rebounds and 4 assists.

“It felt real good,” Foster said. “I’m happy I got my first game out of the way. I think it was a success on all of our parts. Now it’s time to get ready for next week and the real thing.”

Johnson, a point guard, had a strong all-around performance with 15 points (10 of 10 free throws), 9 rebounds and 3 assists while Iwundu provided some much-needed punch inside with 10 points.

As for the veterans, Will Spradling ran the offense and Shane Southwell aided the motion offense with 5 assists plus 10 points. Junior forward Nino Williams contributed 13 points and 13 rebounds, a positive start for the junior forward who could be an important factor for a team lacking size and depth inside.

“Coaches always say you play how you practice and Nino has practiced really hard all along and has been very consistent,” Weber said. “He gave us great numbers. I’m proud of him and we have to keep him doing that.”

Williams gave the Wildcats a big boost with Thomas Gipson out of action.

“I knew Gip wasn’t going to play and we were going to be small,” Williams said. “Coach told me to play hard every possession and crash the boards. When we went small all five guys went to the boards and I was happy to get most of them.”

Both the Wildcats and Gorillas — who lost by 40 points at Kansas on Tuesday — started slow offensively when shots didn’t fall. The Gorillas held a 7-3 lead five minutes into the game, then K-State found its stride.

The Wildcats scored 12 unanswered points, igniting an 18-2 run. Foster had eight points in that spurt, including one 3-point basket and a driving, two-hand dunk.

“I was debating when I was coming around if I was going to lay it up or dunk it,” Foster said. “I wanted to give the fans what they wanted so I decided to dunk it.”

Foster finished the half with nine points, as did Williams to stake K-State to a 38-22 lead. K-State opened the second half with an 11-2 run to build a 49-24 lead, getting a pair of highlight plays on dunks from Omari Lawrence and D.J. Johnson.

Then it was a matter of playing out the remainder of the game filled with fouls under the tightened emphasis on hand-checks. The Wildcats picked up their seventh team foul with 15:35 left in the second half to put the Gorillas in the bonus, and both teams shot the double-bonus the final nine minutes in a game with little offensive flow.

The teams combined for 61 fouls and 59 free throws.

“The officiating is there to stay and you have to deal with it,” Weber said. “Somebody has to figure out what do you do when somebody puts their shoulder down and drives into you because you have to be able to hold your ground a little bit. They (officials) have a tough job, we have a tough job and we all have to adjust and see where it goes.”

Devon Branch led the Gorillas with 30 points and 16 rebounds.

“That’s pretty good numbers in anybody’s book,” Weber said.

NOTES

■ Thomas Gipson was held out of action due to an undisclosed injury and wasn’t sitting with the team on the bench

■ Southwell also has been slowed by injury and wasn’t in the starting lineup but was the first substitute in the game.

■ The Wildcats officially open the season Nov. 8 at home against Northern Colorado.